1967: Put some flowers in your hair today to celebrate the anniversary of the first “Be-In,” held on this day in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Music is provided by the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane and Big Brother & the Holding Company (natch).

1973: After kicking a very destructive heroin habit, singer/songwriter/guitarist extraordinaire Eric Clapton stages his comeback concert at the Rainbow Theatre in London. He opens and closes the show with “Layla.” Pete Townsend, Ron Wood and Steve Winwood are among the all-star band backing Clapton.

1965: NBC airs the first episode of Hullabaloo. The music program is the network’s attempt to match the success of Shindig on rival network, ABC. That first broadcast features performances by The New Christy Minstrels, Gerry & the Pacemakers, and even Woody Allen.

A recurring segment of the program is broadcast from the UK where Brian Epstein introduces a local music act. On this first show that act is The Zombies

1985: Rock in Rio, a 10-day rock festival, kicks off in Rio de Janeiro. Before it’s over, it will attract 1.5 million music fans, making it the largest concert crowd ever. Headliners includes Queen, Rod Stewart, AC/DC and Yes (who all preform on multiple days. The event was so successful it’s been held 8 other times in Brazil as well as occurring in Lisbon (also 8 times), Madrid (3 times) & Las Vegas (once), all under the name “Rock in Rio.”

1949: RCA Victor announces a new format for recorded music, aimed at replacing the bulky 78 RPM singles that had been the industry standard – a 7-inch vinyl platter that plays at 45 RPM. The “45” would go on to become very important to the rise of rock ‘n’ roll just a few years later.

1979: An all-star concert benefiting UNICEF takes place in New York City’s Madison Square Garden. Headlining the venue are the Bee Gees, ABBA, Rod Stewart, Donna Summer, Olivia Newton-John, and Earth, Wind & Fire.

Happy Birthday to the King and the Thin White Duke

1935: Elvis Presley

1947: David Bowie

Also born today:

1946: Robby Krieger (The Doors)

1947: Terry Sylvester (The Hollies)

1970: Max Yasgur the farmer who allowed his land to be the site of the Woodstock Music Festival is sued by his neighbors for $35,000 for damage to their property caused by festival attendees. Peace and love, my eye!

1975: Boston’s mayor Ken White cancels an upcoming Led Zeppelin concert when more than a thousand fans riot while waiting for advance tickets to go on sale. The fans cause $30,000 in damages.

1979: The double album soundtrack to the film Saturday Night Fever, largely featuring the music of the Bee Gees, reaches the 25 million copies mark, making it the best-selling album in history to that date.